Indian hockey teams ditch saffron, return to traditional blue for Asian Games

Hockey India will field its teams in their iconic blue jerseys at the Asian Games, marking a reversal of the recent shift to saffron-coloured kits that sparked widespread criticism within the sport's governing body.

The federation had adopted the saffron colour for international tournaments, including the recent FIH World Cups held in the Netherlands and Belgium. However, the decision generated considerable controversy when Hockey India president Dilip Tirkey publicly questioned the move, revealing it had been implemented without the knowledge or approval of the federation's elected leadership and Executive Board.

"The IOA asked us about our preference of colour for kit, and we gave blue as the primary choice and saffron as the secondary option," Tirkey said during the Asian Games contingent send-off on Tuesday. "As I had stated before the World Cup, the colour change was not permanent."

According to Hockey India officials, kits designated for major tournaments including the Asian Games, Olympic Games, and Commonwealth Games follow specific protocols and design requirements that necessitated the reversion to blue.

The return to traditional blue colours aligns with India's long-standing hockey identity and resolves the internal discord that had marked the recent kit transition period.